DOE Renames National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Broadens Research Mission
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday it has renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), signaling a broader applied energy research focus beyond renewable energies to align with the Trump administration’s priorities of striving to make energy affordable and reliable to meet increasing demand, and acknowledging the lab’s scenic setting in Golden, Colo.
The laboratory’s new name will appear across all public communications and official correspondence moving forward, the DOE said.
Originally founded as the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) in 1974, the laboratory’s mission centered on accelerating the development of solar technologies in response to energy insecurity, according to the NLR’s website.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush designated SERI a national laboratory and renamed it NREL to reflect its expanded work in wind, geothermal, bioenergy, and energy efficiency. Since then, the lab has developed and commercialized key renewable technologies for virtually every facet of the energy value chain, from generation to distribution to end use.
“The energy crisis we face today is unlike the crisis that gave rise to NREL,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. “We are no longer picking and choosing energy sources. Our highest priority is to invest in the scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, drive down costs, and help this country meet its soaring energy demand. The National Lab of the Rockies will play a vital role in those efforts.”
“For decades, this laboratory and its scientific capabilities have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and delivered impact to the nation,” added Jud Virden, laboratory director of the NLR. “This new name embraces a broader applied energy mission entrusted to us by the Department of Energy to deliver a more affordable and secure energy future for all.”
It is not clear if the name change will impact specific biofuel or renewable research initiatives, and NLR did not immediately respond to questions.
–Reporting by Bryan Sims, bsims@opisnet.com; Editing by Jordan Godwin, jgodwin@opisnet.com